Via Deutsche Welle in Brazil: Bolsonaro opens new confrontation with governors. Excerpt from the Google translation:
The clash between President Jair Bolsonaro and governors and mayors over measures to combat the covid-19 pandemic is accentuated as the country breaks records of daily deaths and ICU occupation, with the prospect of worsening in the coming weeks . In addition to disagreement about rules that restrict the movement of people, the clash is about initiatives so that local governments can buy vaccines directly from producers.
São Paulo, the most populous state in the country, has been in the red phase of restrictions since Saturday (03/06), which only allows essential activities to function. In the city of Rio de Janeiro, bars and restaurants are expected to close at 5 pm since Friday. In Santa Catarina, a decree banned non-essential services this Saturday and Sunday. Similar decisions have been made in other regions of the country.
At the federal level, Bolsonaro insists on a stance against social isolation and denial regarding the seriousness of the pandemic. On Thursday, the day after the country broke its daily death record, with 1,910 deaths, the president said that closing trade would be "cool". "Enough with the freshness, mimimi, how long will we be crying?" he said.
On Friday, the president announced that he had asked auxiliaries to prepare a bill to expand the list of essential activities that could remain open during restrictions imposed by municipalities and states. "Essential activity is all that is necessary for the head of the family to take the bread home," said Bolsonaro .
The president is also considering making a statement on national radio and television to criticize, among other points, mayors and governors who have restricted the movement of people. The speech was to be broadcast initially on Tuesday, postponed until Wednesday and then postponed again at the suggestion of his close advisers.
Confrontational Federalism
Bolsonaro's strategy of confronting mayors and governors is seen as a political calculation to exempt himself from responsibility for the management of the pandemic, and threatens to disrupt the Brazilian federal system, which should be based on coordination between different levels of government.
In March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, when Brazil was preparing for the first wave of the covid-19 and some mayors and governors announced restrictive measures, Bolsonaro issued a provisional measure focusing on the federal government the power to determine the rules on the movement of people.
The president's initiative did not succeed. In April, the Federal Supreme Court overturned the measure and authorized governors and mayors to regulate the issue, in a decision indignantly received by Bolsonaro. In May, the president issued a decree including beauty salons, barber shops and gyms in the list of essential services, but was ignored by states and municipalities.
